Rapid access display housing

ABSTRACT

Two panels are assembled to form a housing by a face-to-face junction. Locking members are operated in pairs, with a first locking member of a pair operated to enable operation of the second locking member, which is preliminarily stopped before point of completion by contact with a pressure-alterable restriction. Hand pressure applied to the second locking member by-passes the restriction to complete assembly. One of the locking members can be readjusted using fasteners or is spring loaded to readjust itself when hand pressure is applied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention broadly relates to television and more specifically to acabinet or chassis or to a cabinet back. The invention also relates topictorial communication and more specifically to constructional detailsof receivers, especially to cabinets or dust covers.

Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR1.97 and 1.98

For numerous applications it is desirable to employ an electronic videodisplay unit, with or without audio. From an historical perspective,television and other video displays have employed a cathode ray tube(CRT). A typical CRT design employs a single electron beam. Sometelevisions and other types of display still employ this technology.However, the technology of the CRT carries limitations on the qualityand utility of the display. Currently favored video display units employa flat-panel display (FPD), which offers far larger screen sizes andhigher resolution than is reasonably available in a CRT. In addition, aflat panel video display unit can be far thinner, lighter in weight, andmore portable than a CRT of equal screen size. A variety of specifictechnologies can be used in a flat-panel display. Three currently commonexamples are liquid crystal display (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED),and organic light-emitting diode (OLED). Lighting technology such asOLED has allowed for bendable display screens, so the terminology of aflat-panel display does not exclude a screen with curvature.

The high picture quality, large available screen size, and portabilityof a flat panel display make it attractive for use in public areas.There are several special considerations relating to an FPD locatedwhere the public has access to it. Specifically, it would be desirablefor the FPD to be protected against loss or vandalism. As with manypublic displays, it may be important for the content of the display tobe reliability available. Consequently, the display should be readilyaccessed for servicing, as required. The needs for protection andaccessibility for service can be conflicting.

It would be desirable to create a housing for an FPD that combinesreasonable security with prompt access. The desired type of housingshould provide a secure appearance, with tool-free operation so as tonot invite tampering or other outside attempts to open the housing. Atthe same time, the tool-free operation should enable rapid, frequent,and reliable opening and closing, without substantial possibility offailure. Servicing technicians are thereby enabled to enter the housingquickly, perform necessary service, and reliably secure the housing inclosed position.

It is particularly desirable that such a housing is operable without theneed for conventional tools. As an example, screws often are featuredfasteners on a housing, but retracting and refastening screws is timeconsuming, requires use of the appropriate tool, and is subject tofailure due to lost screws, stripped screw holes, worn screw heads ortools, and the like. The viewable presence of common screw fasteners canbe a further problem because it suggests a mode of entering the housing,which can encourage tampering. Accordingly, tool-free, empiricallynon-obvious fastening and mounting devices are an advantage both interms of being non-encouraging to the outside viewer and efficient topersonnel installing or servicing the FPD unit and other equipmentwithin the housing.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with thepurpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly describedherein, the method and apparatus of this invention may comprise thefollowing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against the described background, it is therefore a general object ofthe invention to provide a rapid access system formed of a protectivedisplay housing containing a flat panel display, with no necessarytool-driven mechanism for opening the display housing.

According to the invention, a display housing is transmutable betweenassembled and disassembled configurations. Front and back panels arearranged in alternative assembled or disassembled configurations. Whenin assembled configuration the panels form an interior chamber betweenthem with a front panel defining a viewing window that visually accessesthe interior chamber. An array of fasteners has open and closedpositions and is operable between the front and back panels. When thefasteners are in closed position, they the front and back panels inassembled configuration. The array of fasteners is formed of receiversand hitches. The receivers are arranged in a pair of first and secondreceivers at a first spacing and are located on a first of the front andback panels. Each receiver has an entry side configured to engage ahitch, and the pair of receivers orients the entry sides in oppositedirections chosen between outward facing direction placing each entry inan orientation facing away from the other entry of the pair and inwardfacing direction placing each entry in an orientation facing toward theother entry of the pair. The receivers each define a two-stage entry.The first stage entries of the receivers are located at respective firstand second entry thresholds of the entry side of the respectivereceiver. Second stage entries of the receivers are located atrespective first and second receiver seats located beyond the thresholdof the respective receiver. The hitches are arranged in a pair of firstand second hitches located on the second of the front and back panels ata second spacing locating the first and second hitches to align withrespective entry sides of the first and second receivers. With respectto receivers oriented in the outward facing direction, the distance fromthe first seat to the second threshold is greater than the secondspacing, such that when the first hitch is in the first seat and thesecond hitch is at the second threshold, the second threshold interfereswith clear passage of the second hitch into the second seat but allowspassage into the second seat by hand-applied pressure to place thepanels in assembled position. With respect to receivers oriented in theinward facing direction, the distance from the first seat to the secondthreshold is less than the second spacing such that when the first hitchis in the first seat and the second hitch is at the second threshold,the second threshold interferes with clear passage of the second hitchinto the second seat but allows passage into the second seat byhand-applied pressure to place the panels in assembled position.

According to another aspect of the invention, a rectangular housing istransmutable between a disassembled configuration for quick entry and anassembled configuration for quick closure. A front panel and a backpanel arranged in alternative assembled or disassembled configurations,each panel having upper and lower ends and right and left sides, andwhen in the assembled configuration defining a closed housing with aninterior chamber configured to contain a flat panel display, the frontpanel defining a viewing window visually accessing the interior chamber.When the front and back panels are aligned face-to-face, the back panelcarries an upper finger disposed at the upper end of the housing and alower finger disposed at the lower end of the housing. The upper fingeris configured with a top edge disposed at an upward and forward angle,with a top seat located at the bottom of the upward angled top edge. Thelower finger is configured with a bottom edge disposed at a downward andforward angle, with a bottom seat located at the top of the downwardangled bottom edge and with a threshold at the forward end of the bottomedge. The top seat and the bottom seat are spaced at a first preselecteddistance. The front panel carries a transverse upper pin positioned tobe received in the top seat and a lower pin positioned to be received inthe bottom seat. The upper pin and lower pin are spaced at a secondpreselected distance. When the upper pin is engaged in the top seat, theupper pin is axially aligned with a transverse top pivot axis betweenright and left sides of the front and back panels. The top seat and thethreshold are spaced at a third preselected distance, and the frontpanel is pivotable on the pivot axis to move the lower pin through anarc of travel positioning the lower pin at the threshold, which has apressure-alterable restriction against advancement of the lower pin,located in the arc of travel of the lower pin. The restriction isresponsive to hand pressure applied against the front panel to advancethe lower pin into the second seat, placing the panels in assembledposition.

In the assembled rapid access system, the back panel can be attached toa wall and equipped with a transverse hinge rod that will carry the flatpanel display. A hanging bracket equipped with a hook can be attached tothe rear of the flat panel display and hooked over the hinge rod,placing the display on the back panel.

The panels carry a system of fasteners distributed at the corners of thehousing. The back panel has four forwardly extending fingers, one neareach corner. The two upper fingers have an upward angle, and the twolower fingers have a downward angle. The front panel has four hitchespositioned to engage the fingers to place the front panel in closedposition. Closing is done by first, hooking the upper hitches over theupper fingers. Then, the front panel can be swung down to engage thelower hitches with the lower fingers. Vertical spacing of the upper andlower fingers and hitches establishes blocking points at the front endsof the lower fingers that interfere with passage of the lower hitches.The lower corners of the front panel can be firmly pressed to move thelower hitches past the blocking points and to hook the lower hitchesunder the lower fingers.

Opening the housing is equally rapid, first requiring that the lower endof the front panel be pulled free. This initial step pulls the lowerhitches back over the blocking points and free of the lower fingers. Thefront panel can be equipped with finger-holes formed in a bottom wall toaid this initial pulling step. Second, the front panel is pivoted up asrequired and lifted free of the upper fingers. With the front panelremoved, the housing is open and the flat panel display can be removedby unhooking it from the hinge rod. Thus, the rapid access systemprovides a housing with finished appearance that is rapidly and easilyclosed or opened.

According to a further aspect of the invention, two forming panels of ahousing are secured together to provide secure enclosure, mounting,protection, and service access for a contained display. A scheme forsecuring together the two panels is formed by an array of receiverscarried on a first one of the panels, and an array of matching hitchescarried on the second panel in positions to engage with the receivers.The receivers are arranged in pairs with preselected separation and aredirectional, with two members of a receiver pair facing in oppositedirections such as up and down. The hitches also are arranged in pairswith coordinated, preselected separation. A first hitch of a pair can beengaged in a first receiver of a pair, such as an upper receiver andupper hitch, resulting in the second or lower hitch having a definedresidual path of travel into the second or lower receiver. The secondreceiver has a threshold in the defined residual path of the hitch,configured as a blocking surface sized and positioned to block entry ofthe second hitch member on the defined residual path. The threshold alsois configured as a deflecting surface enabling deviation of the definedresidual path sufficient for the second hitch to pass the threshold andenter the second receiver when the two panels are pushed together bysufficient pressure.

The housing can be opened by separating the two forming panels. First,the second hitch of a pair is withdrawn from the second receiver of apair, initially following the defined residual path established byengagement of the first hitch in the first receiver to exit the secondreceiver. The blocking function of the threshold prevents the secondhitch from withdrawing along the defined residual path. The thresholdalso serves as a deflecting surface responsive to sufficient pullingforce applied between the two panels. The pulling force enables thesecond hitch to pass the blocking threshold and exit the secondreceiver. Subsequently, the first hitch member of the pair can bewithdrawn from the first receiver member of the pair, thereby completingthe separation of the two panels.

The first receiver of a pair of first and second receivers has a seatconfigured as an open hinge. The first hitch of a pair is configured asa pin sized to fit into the seat of the first receiver as a pivotalhinge pin. The hitch pair pivots on the hinge pin in the first receiver,with the second hitch thereby restrained to follow the defined residualpath.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthe specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, and together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention. In the drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view taken from the front upper left of a rearmounting panel of the rapid access system, also showing a carrier on thefront side thereof for attaching a video screen to the front face of therear mounting panel.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view taken from the rear upper left of a videoscreen with a mating hanger for engaging said carrier of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric assembly view taken from a front, upper leftviewpoint, of said mounting panel of FIG. 1 and said video screen ofFIG. 2, with an assembly arrow suggesting pre-assembly movement betweenthe respective carrier and mating hanger of the two.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of said carrier of FIG. 1 and saidmating hanger of FIG. 2, shown in pre-assembly positions similar to FIG.3 with remainders of said rear mounting panel and said video screendeleted for clarity.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view taken from the front lower left of a frontpanel of the rapid access system, showing attachment pins and pullingedges thereof.

FIG. 6 is an isometric assembly view taken from the front left viewpointof the rapid access system, with schematic hand positions and withassembly arrows suggesting final closure movement between said rearmounting panel of FIG. 1 said front panel of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 6, showing schematic handpositions for engaging said pulling edges of FIG. 5, and with an arrowsuggesting disassembly movement of said front panel.

FIG. 8A is a fragmentary pre-assembly side view of the display housing,with upper and lower seats facing outwardly and in opposite directions,with broken away center portion, and for clarity schematically showing asidewall of the front panel as a connecting line following an axisbetween the attachment pins.

FIG. 8B is a fragmentary side view of the assembly of the displayhousing with upper fasteners engaged and pre-aligning the lowerfasteners, with broken away center portion, and for clarityschematically showing a sidewall of the front panel as a connecting linefollowing an axis between the attachment pins.

FIG. 8C is a fragmentary side view of the assembly of the displayhousing with upper fasteners and lower fasteners engaged, with brokenaway center portion, and for clarity schematically showing a sidewall ofthe front panel as a connecting line following an axis betweenattachment pins.

FIG. 8D is a fragmentary side view of the disassembly of the displayhousing with lower fasteners disengaged, with broken away centerportion, and for clarity schematically showing a sidewall of the frontpanel as a connecting line following an axis between attachment pins.

FIG. 8E is a fragmentary side view of the disassembly of the displayhousing with upper and lower fasteners disengaged, with broken awaycenter portion, and for clarity schematically showing a sidewall of thefront panel as a connecting line following an axis between attachmentpins.

FIG. 8F is a schematic layout with the upper and lower seats facingoutwardly and in opposite directions, positioning the threshold to thelower seat, with an arc showing a defined residual path of travel of thelower pin to the lower seat when the upper pin is in the upper seat.

FIG. 8G is a fragmentary side view of the assembly of the displayhousing with upper fasteners engaged and pre-aligning the lowerfasteners, with upper and lower seats facing centrally and in oppositedirections with broken away center portion, and for clarityschematically showing a sidewall of the front panel as a connecting linefollowing an axis between attachment pins.

FIG. 8H is a fragmentary side view of the assembly of the displayhousing with upper fasteners and lower fasteners engaged, with upper andlower seats facing centrally and in opposite directions, with brokenaway center portion, and for clarity schematically showing a sidewall ofthe front panel as a connecting line following an axis between seatedpins.

FIG. 8J is a schematic layout for positioning upper and lower seats,with upper and lower seats facing centrally and in opposite directions,and positioning the threshold to the lower seat with an arc showing adefined residual path of travel of the lower pin to the lower seat whenthe upper pin is in the upper seat.

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the rapid access system adapted to akiosk.

FIG. 10 is a right side elevation view of the rapid access systemadapted to a kiosk.

FIG. 11 is a right side elevation view similar to FIG. 9, showing therapid access system in open position on a kiosk, and showing assemblyarrows between said front panel and said rear panel.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view taken from an upper right rear viewpoint,showing the rapid access system in open position on a kiosk, and showinginner components thereof.

FIG. 13 is an isometric, fragmentary view of a back panel right sidewallat the lower right hand corner thereof, showing a modified sidewall withthe lower receiver on a sliding plate, and showing a modified lower pincarrying a rotary sleeve that engages the lower receiver.

FIG. 14 is an isometric, fragmentary view of a back panel right sidewallat the lower right hand corner thereof, showing a modified sidewall withthe lower receiver on a sliding plate, and showing a modified lower pincarrying a rotary sleeve that engages the lower receiver.

FIG. 15 is an isometric, fragmentary view of a back panel left sidewallat the lower left hand corner thereof, showing a modified sidewall andreceiver on a spring loaded sliding plate.

FIG. 16 is an isometric, fragmentary view of a back panel right sidewallat the lower right hand corner thereof, showing a modified sidewall andreceiver on a spring loaded sliding plate.

FIG. 17 is an isometric, fragmentary view of a receiver on a springloaded sliding plate at the lower left hand corner or a back panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, a display housing 20 is formed of a backpanel 22 and a front window panel 24 that between them define aninterior volume or chamber for containing a video display screen 26. Thehousing is configured to receive and contain the video display screen 26in a stable position. The front panel 24 defines a viewing window 28 inits front wall, and the stable position of the video display screen 26places the video image displayed thereon in a viewing position throughthe viewing window 28.

The display housing 20 is adapted to function in commercial or publicareas. For this reason, the display housing 20 is configured withconsideration for protecting the video display 26. Further, such acommercial display units may require ready, unhindered access bytechnicians for a variety of reasons that may include but are notlimited to mechanical service, electronic service, modification ofdisplay content, and cleaning. A novel display housing 20 can meet andsatisfy the combined needs of protection and ready access by employingan unconventional securing system with operating features that are notreadily comprehended by mere viewing from outside the housing 20. Hence,the display housing 20 is an element of a rapid access system thatprovides a level of locked protection while displaying a clean exterior,which means that the exterior of the display housing 20 does notnecessarily display obvious keyed locks or fasteners such as screws. Thecombined needs also are met by providing a rapid access system employinga tool-free opening technology, which enables access without requiringlocks with separate entry keys. Entry can be provided primarily bymanipulating the panels in accordance with pre-existing knowledge of therapid access system and how the display housing functions, which can beshared among service technicians more readily than a special tool or amechanical key.

The housing 20 can be rectangular or another shape and is transmutablebetween a disassembled configuration for entry and an assembledconfiguration for closure. Initially considering the housing asconfigured in disassembled configuration, a first aspect of theinvention is a method and apparatus for combining a back panel 22 and afront panel 24 of a display housing 20, initially arranged inface-to-face positions, to form a secure assembled unit. It is desirablefor the two panels to be held at a predefined spacing or interior volumeof suitable thickness to accommodate the presence of a video displayunit 26 between them. By suitably configuring the two panels, it ispossible to arrange the front panel 24 either parallel to the back panel22 or at another angle, as needed to accommodate the thickness andcontours of the video display screen. The two panels are joined andlocked together by a pair of fasteners that serve as receivers for twocomplementary hitches that are joined together on a common axis at afixed separation. The fasteners are directional and may be configured asfingers that extend forward from the back panel with a top finger angledupwardly and a bottom finger angled downwardly. The fingers are locatedat left and right sidewalls 44, 45. Each forms a seat at the base of theangled finger, the top finger forming a seat on the upper side and thebottom finger forming a seat on the opposite, bottom side. The resultingseats are oppositely facing seats that form a lock when both hitches onthe common axis are held in the opposite seats. The hitches may beconfigured as pins 56, 68 disposed crosswise to the right and leftsidewalls 34, 36 of the front panel. The receivers operate along thecommon axis between the pins and the oppositely facing seats. The pinsserve as restraints at each end of the common axis. The seats imposerestraint from opposite directions. Thus, the receivers are directionalbecause they engage the pins from two opposite directions.

A directional receiver of this type can be operated by overcomingresistive forces, which enable the receivers to be operated withouttools. The receivers can be operated with means for placing one panel intension and placing the other panel is compression, requiring athreshold force barrier to be overcome in order to create the tensionand compression relationship to hold the panels together or to overcomethe tension and compression relationship in order to separate thepanels. The system of tension opposed by compression is applied betweenselected portions of the panels, located between opposed ends of thepanels. For example, considering a rectangular display housing 20 hungsquarely in vertical position, the selected, opposed ends might be ateither the top end wall 30 versus bottom end wall 32 or the rightsidewall 34 versus left sidewall 36. The means placing the respectivepanels in compression or tension may be located over a limited portionof the distance between opposed end walls, such as below a top setback38 and above a bottom setback 40 from the respective top and bottom endwalls of the panels. Such a setback provides room near the top andbottom ends for pertinent functional structures to be configured forsuitable strength and performance. Additionally, the functional joiningand locking structures are preferred to be located in a rectangulararray within the display housing 20, where they are hidden,non-vulnerable and non-detectable in the assembled housing, therebyprotecting the display housing from effective prying and break-ins. Thesize of the setback can be determined by the needed space to contain thefunctional structures, such as one or two inches from each endmostportion of the panel; or the setback can be selected as a proportion orpercentage of the dimension between the opposed ends, such as a setbackof five to ten percent of the dimension between endmost portions.

If desired, a first panel can be placed in a condition of either tensionor compression and carries a pair of oppositely angled fingers such asdirectional receivers 46, 58, FIG. 1, located in upper and lowerpositions and aimed in substantially opposite directions. If desired,the second panel 24, FIGS. 5-7, can be placed in an opposite conditionof compression or tension as compared to the first panel and carries apair of hitches 56, 68 in respective upper and lower positions and thatare aligned to engage the similarly located receivers. One or both typesof fastener are configured to progressively engage with the other. Thereceivers and hitches are arranged to begin engagement at a preselectedcloseness of the back and front panels. This pre-contact closeness maybe coordinated with the thickness and contour of the video displayscreen to be housed in the assembled display housing by placing the twopanels against a video display screen positioned between them. Thereceivers 46, 58 are separated from one another by a first preselectedspacing to establish desirable separation between junction points forthe two panels. Similarly, the hitches 56, 68 are separated from oneanother by a second preselected spacing for separation of junctionpoints and to coordinate and align with the respective positions of thereceivers. Where used, the progressive engagement between the receiversand hitches is a product of tension and/or compression between theengaging fasteners. This relationship of tension and compression candrive the engaging fasteners toward progressively further engagement,such as travel of hitches down the angles of the receiving fingers,toward the base where the fingers are attached to the panel. Suchfurther travel corresponds to increased closeness or snugness betweenthe first and second panels. The engaging fasteners may have an ultimatestop at a point that concludes further progressive engagement, such asat the base where the fingers are attached to the panel. It would bedesirable for this ultimate stop to establish suitable closeness betweenthe two panels to secure the contained video display screen. Theengaging fastener portions also may cease further progressive engagementif the panels abut or strike an interfering object before reaching anultimate stop. Such an interfering object might be the video displayscreen held between the panels. Thus, the size of the chamber within thedisplay housing is coordinated with the size of the video display screento ensure that the video display screen is not too thick for thefasteners to become engaged. The first receiver and first hitch may belocated and operated during the engagement process to align the twopanels both by height and by face-to-face closeness.

FIGS. 8A-8C are a series of views illustrating an engagement between thefirst and second panels. The first, back panel 22 is represented as aleft sidewall 44 of back panel 22. The second, front panel 24 has leftsidewall 36 schematically illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8C as line 54, alsorepresenting a preselected distance on an axis between the two pins 56,68. The back and front panels could be reversed in choice of carriedfastener portions. According to one possible example of an arrangementof fasteners, the directional first receiver 46 has optional two-stageentry. The optional aspect of the entry is whether the upwardly anglingfinger 46 will engage hitch 56 at a first stage entry point 50, as suchfirst state engagement is optional at the top fasteners. The hitch 56can be further received at stage two, further within the receiver anddrawing together the front and back panels. Hitch 56 can reach an upperseat 46 having a face or edge open to the top. The second receiver 58 isshown as a downwardly angling finger that forms a lower seat 60 with anopen face toward the bottom of sidewall 44. Two-stage entry is by hitch68 first engaging entry point 62 and then reaching the deeper locationof lower seat 60. The reference to top or bottom positions is merely forconvenience of description and is not a limitation, as the panels andassembled display housing, itself, can be disposed at any desired angleor tilt, such as side-to-side, front-to-back, or even upside down. Thetwo first receivers 46, 58 may be distinguished by one being called atop receiver 46, which may correspond to the top or upper fastenerportion but chiefly is the receiver that during assembly of the housingis first engaged with an upper hitch from the other panel. The secondreceiver 58, while called a bottom receiver, is the receiver that duringassembly of the housing is second to be engaged and completes theassembly.

Further, the open face of the directional seat of the first receiveralso can be modified by placing the open face of the seat in an oppositeorientation, such as placing the open seats of a pair of receivers toface one another. FIGS. 8G-H disclose such opposed seats 48′ and 60′facing toward one another. In the illustrated orientation of the seatsin FIGS. 8A-C, lower seats 58 have a first stage entry threshold 62 andoptionally, an incline or sloped surface 64 leading from the threshold62 to the second stage seat 60. The inclined surface, where used, ispositioned so that the lower hitch 68, when in tension on threshold 62,will be urged to progressively enter from the first stage entry at thethreshold to the deeper engagement with the seat 60, nearer to the backpanel 22. In an alternative orientation of the seat openings, such asthe illustrated orientation of FIG. 8G-H, the seats 48′, 60′ face towardone another. The first receiver may be the larger receiver 46′, and thesecond receiver may be the smaller receiver 58′. The hitch 68 can beneutral or in compression instead of in tension and, due to thecompression, will progressively enter the receiver 58′ from threshold62′ to seat 60′ from a central position. Thus, these variations arewithin the scope of the invention.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8C, the left side receivers 46,58 are on a vertical left sidewall 44 of the back panel, with theposition of the back panel depending into the back of the drawing. Thisback panel sidewall 44 can be neutral in tension or compression in FIG.8A but will become a compression element in FIGS. 8B and 8C. An upperreceiver 46 operates as a hinge with an open top suited to receive ahitch embodied as a top transverse hinge pin 56 that is aligned with atransverse top pivot axis between right and left sides of the front andback panels. The top pin 56 is placed by hand, optionally at stage oneentry point 50 or deeper into the receiver at seat 48, nearer to backpanel 22. Pin 56 can follow arrow 55 to deeper, stage two engagementwith seat 48, then allowing the front panel to pivot on the pin 56. Athreshold force barrier with leading end 50 extends to the top right ofthe receiver and defines a hinge pin seat 48 between the panel sidewall44 and entry threshold 50 at the top entry point of the seat 48. Anoptional incline or smooth edge 52 depends from threshold 50 to seat 48.The incline serves to help direct the hinge pin into the seat and alsoaids in smooth removal of the hinge pin from the seat. A left sidewallof the front panel is schematically shown as the connecting line 54,which tracks an axis between the upper and lower pins and is a tensionelement according to FIGS. 8B and 8C. The sidewall 54 carries an upperhitch configured as an upper hinge pin 56 in an orientation suitable tobe hung in seat 48. Initially, the hinge pin 56 can be hung in seat 48by hand placement of the front panel wall 54, following the suggestedmovement arrow 55 at pin 56 of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 6 shows a similar arrangement of parts with initial engagementbetween top receiver 46 and hitch 56, followed by swinging down thefront panel to engage the bottom receiver 58 with hitch 68, the lattermotion suggested by movement arrows 69 at the bottom of FIG. 6. Therepresentation in FIG. 6 shows human hands 96 applied to the front panelto show that achieving alignment between the panels to apply the frontpanel to the back panel is suited as a hand operation. The incline 52and threshold 50 in FIG. 8A are retaining elements, sufficient tomaintain the pin 56 in top seat 48 when the pin 56 and sidewall 54 arein tension against seat 48.

In FIG. 8A, an oppositely disposed second or lower receiver 58 at thebottom of sidewall 44 is configured as a downwardly angled finger. Thesecond receiver has a nose configured to function as a clip or hooksuited to engage with a lower hitch 68 of the front panel. In this FIG.8A, the lower receiver 58 extends to the bottom right of sidewall 44 anddefines a lower seat 60 that is open toward the bottom, or moregenerally, open in a direction opposite from top seat 48. The openbottom is positioned between the panel sidewall 44 and a downwardlyextended entry threshold 62. The bottom incline or smooth edge 64depends from a bottom of seat 60 to a lower threshold point 62. Thus, inthe example of a vertically hung display housing, the lower hitch is apin 68 that operates in controlling tension to overcome and pass underthe lower threshold 62 and travel up the sloped surface 64 to enter seat60.

According to the view of FIG. 8B, the top hinge pin 56 has been hung onhinge seat 48, combining the first receiver with the first hitch. Theleft sidewall of the front panel 54 also carries a lower hitch 68 at apreselected distance from upper hitch 56 to enter seat 60. However, thefront panel sidewall 54 carries the upper and lower pins 56, 68 at tooclose a mutual spacing for pin 68 to freely overcome the threshold forcebarrier at point 62 when top hinge pin 56 is in seat 48. The movementarrow 71 at lower hitch 68 in FIG. 8B suggests that threshold forcebarrier 62 interferes with unhindered movement of lower hitch 68 intolower seat 60. The top seat 48 and the lower threshold point 62 are at apreselected distance that is greater than the preselected distance 54between pins 56 and 68. Due to this difference in separations, thresholdpoint 62 is a pressure-alterable restriction against advancement of thelower pin 68 into seat 60. Where portion 62 of the threshold wallrestricts passage of the hitch 68 into the seat 60 past the threshold,hand pressure can be applied to the area of the lower fastener todeflect interfering components as necessary to move hitch 68 orthreshold 62 past one another. The deflection across threshold 62 andmovement into seat 60 are accomplished by applying threshold forceagainst the front panel 24, pushing the lower hitch 68 across threshold62. Overcoming the physical interference of threshold 62 places frontsidewall 54, hitch 56, and hitch 68 in tension, which completes assemblyof the housing 20 by pushing hitch 68 into seat 60 while retaining hitch56 in seat 48. The assembled upper and lower fasteners establish a lockthat secures together the front cover 24 and back cover 22.

In FIG. 8C the lower hitch 68 has been forced over the restriction ofthreshold 62 and has entered seat 60. Seats 48 and 60 are at sufficientseparation that the hitches 56, 68 are held either neutrally or intension across sidewall 54. Where tension is present, the tensionmaintains the two hitches in seats 48 and 60. Either hitch can beremoved from its seat by application of sufficient reverse force over aninclined edge 52 or 64 and over a threshold point 50, 62. The reverseforce must be sufficient to overcome the tension preventing therespective hitch from exiting over the threshold of its seat. The topreceiver 46 is shown to be larger than the bottom receiver 58, with alarger displacement at threshold 50. Thus, the preferred location tooriginate unfastening is at the smaller bottom receiver 58, where thethreshold displacement is less and thereby requires less force to pullthe hitch 68 over the restriction of the threshold. In FIG. 8C, theillustrated positions of the hitches 56, 68 are fully in the respectiveseats, which serve as ultimate stops and limit the closeness of thefirst and second panels. It is possible that the hitches will be stoppedbefore reaching the seats if some other stop precedes the seats, such asif a video display screen contained in the display housing 20 is of athickness that limits the approach of the two panels. In that case, thehitches 56, 68 might remain on the inclines 52, 64 with spacing betweenfirst and second panels being as established by the size and contour ofthe video display screen.

In FIGS. 8A-8C, a pair of receivers 46, 58 are located in upper andlower positions on a sidewall 44 of the first panel. The right side ofthese views shows a pair of pins 56, 68 in upper and lower positions,coordinated with the pair of pair of receivers 46, 58. An upper pin 56and a lower pin 68 are connected to a sidewall of the second panel 24,where they are positioned to interact with the receivers 46, 58. In thedrawings, a schematic line 54 represents the sidewall of the secondpanel carrying both pins. The schematic rendering 54 is used to maintainclarity of the series of views in FIGS. 8A-C.

FIG. 8A is a pre-assembly view where top pin 56 is being hooked into thetop seat 48 of the top receiver 46, while the front panel sidewall 54 isholding bottom hitch 68 at a spaced position from bottom receiver 58.The pre-assembly is a first step that can be accomplished by hand anddoes not require such a high force as will be required subsequently toforce lower hitch 68 into lower seat 60. During pre-assembly, the bottomof the front panel may be pivoted up as required while engaging theupper hitch 56 in the upper receiver 46, forming a hinge on a transverseaxis, after which the front panel is pivoted down at the axis.

In the view of FIG. 8B, the top pin 56 is resting in seat 48 and therebyis aligning the second panel 54 at a specified height with respect tothe first panel. Also in accordance with view 8B, the lower hitch 68 hasbeen positioned against an entry threshold point 62 at the entry tolower receiver 58. The position of the hitches 68 is coordinated withthe positions of the receivers 46, 58 to place lower hitch 68 at therestriction point 62 when upper pin 56 is in upper seat 48. Therestriction point 62 is one example of a pressure-alterable restrictionin the predefined arc 65 (FIG. 8F) that blocks the path of hitch 68moving in the path of the arc into seat 60 of the bottom receiver 58.Application of a preselected pressure is necessary to push lower hitch68 past entry restriction 62. A hand-applied force can be suitable.Finally, FIG. 8C shows hitch 68 after being pushed into seat 60 by thepreselected threshold force. With the hitches 56, 68 in seats 48, 60,the second panel 54 might be neutral or in tension between hitches 56,68, depending upon the neutral separation between the two pins. Thefirst panel is neutral or in compression between the receivers 46, 58.

FIG. 8F, not to scale, shows an example of a spacing layout of top seat48, lower seat 60, and lower threshold 62. A preselected distance fromtop seat 48 to bottom seat 60 is represented by the distance line 57,which also can be equal to a preselected distance between hitches of apair, represented by line 54, FIGS. 8A-8E, between the hitches 56, 68.Arc 65 is established using line 57 as a radius from a pivot point ofthe upper hitch in seat 48. Arc 65 represents a defined residual path ofavailable travel of the lower hitch when the upper hitch is in seat 48.In the views of FIGS. 8A through 8C, threshold point 62 is positioned torestrict passage of hitch 68 moving past the threshold on arc 65. Toprovide desired restriction through threshold 62, a wall of thethreshold including a restriction point 62 is located at a longer radiusline 67, which is the radius 57 plus a selected further distancerepresented by a positive dimension of gap 66. The dimension of gap 66beyond the radius of arc 65 can be chosen as a product of variousconsiderations, including panel sizes, material strengths and desiredthreshold force at point 62. The gap 66 can be sized as desired tocorrespondingly restrict passage of the pin 68 into or out of the seat60. As an example, a suitable dimension for gap 66 often is 0.025inches. Further, the described radius and use of arc 65 is suited forlocating seat 60 to capture pin 68 with neutral tension or compression.The length of line 57 can be selected to be shorter than line 54 tocreate residual tension between pins 56, 68.

FIGS. 8G and 8H have similarities to FIGS. 8B and 8C but differ in atleast the following ways. The sidewall 44′ carries receivers 46′ and 58′that have open faces facing each other, while receivers 46 and 58 haveopen faces directed away from each other. The upper hitch or pin 56 isplaced in seat 48′ by lifting the upper hitch into the seat 48′, whileupper hitch 56 in FIGS. 8A-B is placed in seat 48 by lowering the upperhitch into the seat 48. Threshold 50′ and sloped edge 52′ serve asretainers holding fastener 56 in seat 48′. Then the lower hitch 68 ispushed against lower threshold restriction 62′ to cause sufficientdisplacement for the hitch 68 to pass over the threshold and enter lowerseat 60′. Due to the reversed orientations of the receivers 46′, 58′,available compression and tension, if used, are reversed as compared toFIGS. 8B-C. Correspondingly, in FIGS. 8G-H back panel sidewall 44′ canbe placed in tension, while front panel sidewall 54 can be placed incompression.

FIG. 8J, not to scale, shows a spacing layout applicable to the centralfacing seats 48′, 60′ and lower threshold 62′ of FIGS. 8G and 8H. Due tothe central facing orientation of the seats 48′, 60′, the distance 57′between seats 48′ and 60′ includes the diameters of pins 56, 68. The arc65′ is a line of neutral force between pins 56, 68 when in seats 48′,60′, generated using distance 57′ from point 48′ as radius of arc 65′.For planning a position of an effective lower restriction point 62′, anegative gap 66′ is located above arc 65′ by a chosen gap distance andis subtracted from radius 57′ to determine threshold point 62′. Thus,the radius line 67′ from seat 48′ to threshold restriction point 62′ isshortened by gap 66′ as shown by pin 68′, positioned above arc 65′ bythe dimension of gap 66′.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a wall of the threshold62, 62′ can serve as an alterable restriction in the predefined arc 65,65′. Alternative restrictions might employ mechanical springs or balldetents.

In keeping with described variations, the back panel 22 may be chosen tobe in compression; and the front panel 24 may be chosen to be intension. The pair of receivers 46, 58 associated with the back panel 22or sidewall 44 may be regarded as static, showing neither substantialmovement nor deflection during attachment to the pair of hitches 56, 68.The hitches 56, 68 may be regarded as dynamic, having a capacity to bendor deflect either in combination with some portion of their attachedpanel sidewalls 34, 36 or alone, deflecting with respect to the attachedpanel sidewalls. As described herein, the back panel 22 is a betterchoice to be placed in compression and to carry the static receivers 46,58. The front panel 24 is the better choice to be placed in tension andto carry the dynamic hitches 56, 68. It would be possible to reverse thepanel positions or reverse the choices of which fasteners are carried onwhich panel.

The hinge seat 48 is configured to receive hinge pin 56 and togetherwith incline 52 and threshold 50, retain pin 56 in seat 48, therebydrawing together the two panels 22, 24 at a height established by hingepin 56 in hinge seat 48. If the display housing 20 is verticallymounted, the force of gravity might be sufficient to place and retainhinge pin 56 in seat 48, but if greater force is needed, a humanoperator represented by hands 96, FIG. 6, can force hinge pin 56 intoseat 48. A higher applied force is available to join the two fasteningelements 48, 56 by subsequently engaging the lower receiver and hitch58, 68. The lower pin 68 may be forced into seat 60 by tension slidingthe pin on edge 64; or pin 68 can enter seat 60 by applied hand pressurepushing the pin toward the seat. Regardless of whether the pins 68 enterthe seats 60 by tension driven sliding or by applied pressure, the pins56, 68 and wall 54 are in tension during entry by pin 68.

Optionally, the spacings as described in FIGS. 8F and 8J can be used tomaintain the pins in tension even after full entry into seats 60, 60′.The tension relationship can be used to continue to apply a closingforce between the two panels 22, 24 and to maintain them in lockedposition. By forcing the pins 68 against the entry threshold 62, thepins 68 are deflected past the entry point 62 under entry pressureexceeding the threshold force. Thereafter the pins 68 achieve a stableposition in bottom seats 60. Movement of pins 68 into seats 60 primarilyis a function of force generated by the tension between pins 56 and 68,regardless of the position of the inclined surface 64 with respect togravity. The movement is accompanied by a drawing together of the panels22, 24 with increased overlap of sidewalls 44, 54. A maximum closenessof the two panels 22, 24 will be reached when the panels or anassociated component thereof abut. The abutting components may be pins56, 68 and the positions of seats 48, 60, in which case the pins cannotprogress further along the inclines 52, 64. The separation of the upperand lower members of the respective pairs of receivers and hitches ofthe two panels 22, 24, can be such that tension will be present betweenpins 56, 68 to establish a securely locked condition. The describedmethod using receivers 58 in fixed positions on the sidewalls may becalled the fixed receiver method.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a fixed slide method for carrying receivers 58. Themodification is preferred to be applied to the lower receivers 58 and asan example is illustrated in the drawings to be applied to a rightsidewall 45. In use, the modification would be applied to both sidewalls44, 45. The receiver 58 is arranged as a component of a slide plate 128that is guided to move parallel to a sidewall 45. At least a pair ofcompression fasteners such as bolts 130 secures the slide plate 128 at avariable, preselected position along the right or left sidewall. Thebolts secure the slide plate between the head of bolt 130 on the insideof the sidewall and a threaded hole 132 in the slide plate receiving thethreaded shaft of the bolt, together pinching the slide plate againstthe outside of the sidewall. Sidewall 45 forms passages 134 shaped aselongated keyways oriented on an axis between upper and lower receiversto allow the bolts to move in the keyways to reposition the slide plateat a varied separation from the top receiver on sidewall 45. As anexample, the keyway 134 may allow the bolt position to vary by 0.25inch, which is suitable for many applications where a front or backpanel is flexible enough to otherwise engage the other panel tooloosely. A leverage slot 136 in the receiver on the slide plate providesready engagement by a screwdriver or similar tool to hold the slideplate at the needed separation from the upper receiver while bolts 130are secured.

FIGS. 13 and 14 also illustrate an isolated pin 68 of the type describedas being carried on the front panel 24, engaged in a receiver pocket 60.In FIG. 13, the pin 68 is shown as having a sleeve 138 carried on thecore of the pin, which may be the shaft of an axial fastener. The sleeveis secured by removable end fasteners suggested by screw head 140 at theleft end of the sleeve in FIG. 13 and a mating hex headed fastener 142at the right end of the sleeve. The sleeve can be replaced when worn byremoving and replacing the fasteners, without requiring the moredifficult task of removing a welded pin on the front panel.

FIGS. 15-17 illustrate a spring-loaded slide method for carryingreceivers 58. According to this method, receivers are applied to slidealong a sidewall, either with or against a spring force. At one point,the seat 60 of a receiver is closed to receive a pin 68. This point isshown at FIGS. 15 and 17. At a second point, the seat of a receiver isopen to receive a pin 68, as best shown in the sequence of FIGS. 8A-8C.At completion point, pin 68 is inside seat 60 and the receiver is ableto move slightly forward for the seat 60 to meet the matching contour ofthe pin 68, best shown in FIG. 16. The front panel 24 is pre-positionedto apply pin 68 against the angled edge 143 of the receiver as thehousing 20 is closed. The edge 143 is pushed back against spring force,spring-loading the seat 60 to a longitudinal ready position forreceiving the engageable pin 68 to complete a closing and latchingsequence. A spring or other resilient member biases the receiver 58 in aforward direction, where the term “forward” refers to the longitudinalend of the receiver with an open face of a seat 60. After being pushedback at edge 143, the seat 60 moves forward to a point where it receivesa pin or latch from the front panel of the housing. The forwarddirection is toward the left in FIG. 15 and toward the right in FIGS. 16and 17. The spring biases the receiver in a forward direction, toward apin 68 that has entered the seat 60 to assist entry of the pin into theseat. The receiver is moveable in the opposite or rearward directionagainst the force of the spring to move the open face of the seat 60rearward to aid in removal of the pin.

Spring-loading the receivers provides two solutions to potential lockingproblems. First, as housings 20 are produced to receive video screens indifferent sizes, it might be difficult to exactly design the fixedspacing and contour of the fixed receiver method, illustrated in FIGS. 1and 3. Even assembling and disassembling a fixed slide might bedifficult, if initial settings prove to be too loose or too tight.Instead, the spring-loaded slide offers an acceptable range of slidepositions, over a range of spring positions. The spring providesautomatic adjustment or self-adjustment within a range of springexpansion or contraction.

In greater detail, FIGS. 15-17 show a spring-loaded slide applied toeither right or left sidewall 44, 45. FIGS. 15 and 17 show applicationto a left sidewall 44, and FIG. 16 shows application to a right sidewall45. The applications to the opposite sidewalls are mirror images and aretaken together to show the full spring-loaded slide method. In each, aslide is located on the outer face of the sidewall, with a left slide129 on the outer face of left sidewall 44, best shown in FIGS. 15 and17, and with a right slide 128 on the outside face of right sidewall 45,best shown in FIG. 16. Each slide carries a superstructure above theheight of the adjacent sidewall, providing room for the pin 69 to pushdown against edge 143. The superstructure consists of a seat 60 in areceiver 58 with a downward sloped edge 143 above seat 60 and leading tothe top of the front opening into seat 60. The sloped edge functions asan extended threshold 62, FIG. 8B. Downward sloping edge 143 alsofunctions as the lower finger 58 disposed at said lower end of thehousing as shown in FIG. 8A. The sloped edge 143 acts as a slide moverpositioned to be applied against the first panel during transmutation ofthe housing from open to closed configuration. The applied portion ofthe first panel can be a pin 68 or another structure suited to pushagainst edge 143. The length of edge 143 is extended as compared to ashorter length of threshold 62, spreading the pressure applied betweenpin 68 and receiver 58. A pin 68 pressing down on edge 143 from abovethe top of the sidewall 44, 45 forces the edge 143 and seat 60 rearwardso that pin 68 is lowered to the front open face of seat 60.

The receiver 58 is positioned such that the open face of the seat 60 isin the opposite direction from the top seats 48. In FIGS. 15-17, theopen face of seat 60 faces housing bottom 32. In the embodiment of FIGS.8G-8H, the open face of seat 60′ faces the housing top 30. The directionbetween the top and bottom ends of a sidewall is regarded aslongitudinal. The positions of housing bottom 32 or housing top 30 alsoindicate top and bottom or upper and lower ends of a longitudinalextent. The left or right side placement of the slides 128, 129 is afunction of the chosen mounting hardware and which longitudinaldirection the seat 60 faces in mounted position on receiver 58 of eachslide. If desired, a receiver 58 can be structured with a pair oflongitudinally oppositely facing open seats 60 so that the receiver isreversible and can be used on either left or right side, with the slideis otherwise structured to be reversible, as well.

In order to implement longitudinal sliding action along a sidewall, aslide 128, 129 is arranged on the outside surface of the appropriatesidewall 44, 45 and is fastened through the sidewall at least at twolocations. Each fastening location is at a longitudinally elongatedkeyway slot in the sidewall.

For example, in FIG. 15, a first longitudinal keyway slot 144 is locatedin sidewall 44 near the upper longitudinal end of the slide 129, placingslot 144 nearer to the longitudinal top of the sidewall. A firstfastener is a screw or bolt 148 laterally placed through the firstkeyway slot 144 and engaged in the slide 129 at a holder that is a firstcap nut 150, embedded in the slide and nonrotatable, as best shown atFIG. 17. The first screw or bolt 148, as best shown in FIGS. 15 and 16,carries a large diameter plastic glide sleeve 151 that smoothly slideson the sidewall 44, maintaining the slide 129 in slidable relationshipagainst the sidewall 44 without requiring the first bolt 148 to beunduly loose or tight.

Further in the example, a second longitudinal keyway slot 152 in thesidewall 44 is longitudinally spaced below the first keyway slot, suchas below the upper longitudinal end of the slide 129, nearer themidpoint of the slide. A second fastener is a screw or bolt 154,optionally a shoulder screw or bolt that fits through the second keywayslot 152 at least to the shoulder, where optionally present. Secondfastener 154 engages the slide 129 at a second holder that is a secondcap nut 156, nonrotatably embedded in the slide. Longitudinal positionsof the two holders 150, 156 in the slide are coordinated with thepositions of the two keyways 144, 152 to allow similar longitudinal,back-and-forth movement of the fasteners 148,154 in the lengths of thekeyways, establishing a range of sliding movement for the receiver 58.

In the example, the second screw or bolt 154 is a sliding distancecontrol element, and also is a first, top end anchor for longitudinalspring 158. A second, bottom end anchor for the spring 158 is a thirdfastener, a screw or bolt 160, fastened into the sidewall 44 at alongitudinal spacing below second fastener 154. The third fastenerengages the sidewall 44 at a third holder that is a third cap nut 164,nonrotatably embedded in the sidewall below the positions of the firstand second cap nuts. The third cap nut is flush with the sidewall 44 ofthe back panel 22 so as to present no interference with movement of theslide behind the sidewall 44. The first and second cap nuts are flushwith the slide 129 so as to minimize any interference of needed gap 162between the slide 129 and the sidewall 34 of front cover 24. The springattached between the second and third fasteners pulls the fastenerstoward one another, typically grounding the second fastener at thebottom end of the second keyway slot when the receiver 58 is empty.Placing a pin 68 into receiver seat 60 displaces the receiver upwardstoward the top of the sidewall, extending the spring 158 and therebyalso raising the second fastener in the second keyway. The resultingspring force holds pin 68 in seat 60.

The back panel 22 and front panel 24 of housing 20 fit together somewhatlike a box and a lid, where both panels have sidewalls. FIG. 16 shows aback panel with right sidewall 45 carrying a right slide 128. In orderto operate properly with the slide 128 and receiver 58 on sidewall 45,the corresponding sidewall 34 of the front panel is spaced from slide128. Hatch marks 162 indicate a spacing from sidewall 34 that allowsslide 128 to move longitudinally. Pin 68 is selected to have adequatelength to extend from sidewall 34 through the spacing 162 to beyond seat60.

Both engagement and disengagement between pin 68 and seat 60 takes placeagainst the force of the selected spring 158. Either higher or lowertension springs 158 can be selected, while having similar lengths.Spring selection allows the spring-loaded slide method to use a singlehardware size over a range of different housings 20 and with differentvideo screens 26. Springs of different lengths can be selected, as well,to the extent the lengths of the keyway slots permit operation with avariety of selected spring lengths.

Housings 20 can be prepared in advance of need according topre-established size ranges. As in the fixed embodiments of FIGS. 1 and3, at least a minor factor in suitable sizing arises from the qualitiesof the chosen material of manufacture, and an interrelated factor arisesfrom the contours of the chosen design. A greater sizing factor ariseswith availability of mechanical repositioning of locking elements asfound in the bolt-down concepts of the fixed mechanical adjustmentmethod shown in FIGS. 13-14. With the spring-loaded slide method ofFIGS. 15-17, the automatically available size range can be equal to thefixed mechanical adjustment method.

A further aspect of the invention is an assembly system in which twoobjects such as the first and second panels form a housing when fastenedinto a face-to-face junction with preselected separations. Lockingmembers are operated in pairs, as partners, where, initially, a firstlocking member of a pair operates to enable operation of the secondlocking member. The first locking member is a positioning member thatpre-positions the panels into alignment and also pre-positions a secondmember of the pair for use. Subsequently, the second locking member ofthe pair is operated to complete the assembly. Between the partnering ofmembers within a pair, optionally the members are coordinated to placeone panel side of the housing assembly in tension and to place the otherpanel of the assembly in compression. A member is composed ofsub-elements sufficient to operate the member, and the division ofsub-elements between different components of the assembly may controlplacement of panels in tension and compression. The assembly systemallows tool-free, rapid access by simultaneously overcoming either thelocking elements in tension or those in compression to open both lockingmembers of a pair.

A first member of a pair may be composed of an upper receiver 46 and amatched, engageable upper hitch 56. This first member is a positioningmember. A second member may be composed of a lower receiver 58 and amatched, engageable lower hitch 68. This second member is a fasteningmember. A positioning member and a fastening member constitute apartnered pair and are positioned near a common edge of the two panels.This partnered pair may be regarded as the left partnered pair by virtueof being positioned near the left side of the two panels. Another equalpartnered pair may be regarded as the right partnered pair by virtue ofbeing positioned near the right side of the two panels. The engagementof a left upper receiver 46 with a left upper hitch 56 startspre-positioning of the two panels 22, 24. Pre-positioning the two panelsprepares them for subsequent engagement of the left bottom receivers 58and their associated left lower pins 68. This is a two-step process thatforms a completed left side lock between the two panels 22, 24. Theright partnered pair is simultaneously operated in two steps to completea right side lock.

The positioning members pre-position one panel with respect to theother. The two panels are aligned in height, as necessary for the lowerpins 68 to meet lower threshold points 62 for threshold engagement. Thepositioning members 46, 56 pre-align the two panels to place the lowerpins 68 at thresholds 62, so that the lower pins 68 are in position tobe pushed past the threshold points 62 and into seats 60 when sufficientpressure is subsequently applied. Significantly, the positioning memberis more than just a fastener located in a chain of fasteners, which tosome degree might be considered to position a next in line fastener.Instead, the positioning member creates a relationship in which thedownstream fastener can operate, where otherwise it could not operate.For example, without the positioning hitch 56 being first engaged onseat 48, the next downstream hitch 68 could not establish a fasteningrelationship in next seat 60.

Locking the lower fastening structures 58, 68 also optionallyestablishes a compression and tension relationship of the two panels. Inthe example shown in FIGS. 1-8F, the upper seat 48 faces upward and thelower seat 60 faces downward. In this partnered relationship, the upperpin 56 is placed over the upper seat and is drawn downward, while thepartnered lower pin 68 is under the lower seat 60 and is drawn upward.To maintain the pins in the seats, intermediate wall 54 of the frontpanel is neutral or in tension, placing the partnered seats 48, 60 inneutral force or in compression across intermediate wall 44 of the backpanel.

The partnered structure is composed of a positioning member and afastening member at a substantially fixed distance. A partnering betweena lower engageable fastener 58, 68 and an upper engageable positioner46, 56 establishes one partnered pair. The members of the partneredpairs are arranged such that the positioning members are positioned neara common edge of the panels, especially near a top edge where thepositioning members can be initially engaged to start the fasteningprocess between two panels 22, 24. The fastening members are positionednear an opposite common edge, especially near a bottom edge where thefastening members are conveniently reached for hand engagement ordisengagement.

Two partnered pairs are located at laterally separated positions, suchas one pair near the right edge of the panels and one pair near the leftedge of the panels. With partnered pairs positioned according to thisscheme, the partnered pair near the left edge is formed of a toppositioning member and a bottom fastening member and may be regarded asthe left hand partnered structure. The partnered pair near the rightedge is formed of a different top positioning member and a differentbottom fastening member that may be regarded as the right hand partneredstructure.

The positioning members and the fastening members may be identical orclosely similar in configuration. They may primarily differ in manner ofusage rather than in configuration. As an example of this differenceapplied to a back panel 22, a top positioning structure 46 and a bottomfastening structure 58 both appear to define almost the same structure,except that the top elements 48, 50, 52 form an upwardly open structurefor receiving a pin 56, while the corresponding bottom fasteningelements 60, 62, 64 form a downwardly open structure for receiving pin68. Thus, the top and bottom elements 46 and 58 are near invertedversions of one another. The open top of element 46 initially functionsas a hook or hinge, at first receiving a hand-placed matching top pin 56from the front panel to loosely draw-in, pre-position, and attach thetop of the front panel 24 to the top of the back panel 22. The openbottom of element 58 operates differently when it subsequently receivesa pin 68 from the front panel 24, with the bottom pin 68 first beingforced past an interference point at threshold 62 while wall 54 appliestension to push pin 68 toward seat 60, simultaneously applying forcethat retains upper pin 56 in seat 48.

Where the back panel 22 carries top and bottom seats 48, 60, the twoseats are located at the same side edge, such as the left edge of theback panel. In an example where the display housing is regarded asmounted with top and bottom ends positioned in vertical orientation, thechosen edge to be described is the left side edge, the right side edgebeing similar, mutatis mutandis. One seat 48 is at the left side topposition of the back panel and the other seat 60 is at the left sidebottom position. The two left side seats 48, 60 may be formed integrallywith the material of the back panel sidewall 44. For example, if theback panel is formed of sheet metal, the same body of sheet metal mayform the sidewall 44 and be bent forward at the left side edge of theback panel 22 to form the left sidewall 44, which is positionedperpendicular to the central area of the back panel, extending forwardfrom the back panel. In this description, “forward” means toward thefront panel. The left sidewall is formed to include the two seats, onenear a higher point on the left sidewall and one near a lower point onthe left sidewall. The top positioned seat 48 is a positioning structureat top left position; and the bottom positioned fastening seat 60 is amember of a fastening structure at bottom left position. The toppositioned seat is at a preselected height relative to the rear paneland is connected to a relatively higher front threshold 50 locatedforward of the seat and optionally interconnected by a wall 52 thatslopes from the high threshold 50 to the seat 48. The bottom positionedfastener 58 is approximately inverted with respect to the described topsurfaces. The bottom positioned seat 60 also is at a preselected heightrelative to the rear panel and is connected to a front lower threshold62 located forward of the seat and interconnected by a wall 64 thatslopes from the higher seat position to the lower threshold 62. Wherethe left sidewall 44 extends between the two left side seats, thisportion 44 of the sidewall acts as an interconnecting and spacing webthat resists displacement of either seat 48, 60 toward the other. Theinterconnecting web 44 also is a portion of the back panel 22 thatoptionally is placed in compression when the display housing isassembled by placement of pins 56, 68 in their respective seats.

According to another aspect of the invention, a display housing isformed of a generally planar back panel 22 and front panel 24, alignedface-to-face. The back panel forms two seats, which are hinge seat 46,and clip seat 58 that are mounted perpendicularly to a face of the panel22 at one side edge 44 of the back panel, such as the left side edge.

A top edge of the first, hinge seat 46 is open for receiving acomplementary hinge pin 56 that is the upper member of a linked pair ofpins 56, 68. The first, hinge seat 46 is formed with an entry end 50 ata relatively more removed spacing from the back panel and a concludingend 48 forming a first end stop at a relatively less removed spacingfrom the back panel.

A bottom edge of the second, clip seat 58 is open for receiving acomplementary lower pin 68 that is the second member of the linked pairof pins 56, 68. The second seat 58 is formed with an entry end 62 at arelatively more removed spacing from the back panel and a concluding end60 forming an end stop at a relatively less removed spacing from theback panel 22. A first preselected distance separates the entry end 50of seat 46 from the entry end 62 of seat 58. A second preselecteddistance separates the concluding end 48 of seat 46 from the concludingend 60 of seat 58. The first preselected distance between points 50 and62 is different from the second preselected distance between points 48and 60. The distance 54, FIGS. 8A-8E, separating first and secondmembers of the linked pair of hitches 56, 68 can be equal to the secondpreselected distance 48-60, thereby placing the pins 56, 68 atconcluding ends 48, 60 with neutral force.

The sloped positions and relative heights of the walls 52, 64 and entrythreshold points 50, 62 can be described in functional terms. The entryend of the receivers is a threshold 50, 62 that is offset above thelevel of the stop 48, 60 at the open side edge of the receivers, and theinclined wall 52, 64 extends from the thresholds to the stops. The endstop of the receivers 46, 58 is the functional low end of the inclinedwall. Between the functional high end and the functional low end, thecomplementary hitches 56, 68 follow the functional declines untilstopped at the end stops 48, 60 or other functional low end. Thereceivers are used in an opposed pair that has oppositely facing openside edges, such as the two open edges facing up and down. The receivers46, 58 are formed of sheet material with a coplanar web 44 of the samesheet material disposed between the two receivers. The web 44 iscoplanar with the receivers and, as such, supports the two receivers ata fixed separation. On the front panel 24 of the display housing, themating hitches are mounted to allow deflection or displacement fromalignment of the complementary hitch 68 so that it can enter the openside of the lower receiver by forced deviation from alignment to passover the threshold 62.

With reference to FIGS. 1-7 the back panel 22 is configured to carry avideo display screen 26. A display carrier 70 is mounted directly to theback panel 22 at a central location. With reference to the detailed viewof FIG. 4, the carrier has opposite sidewalls and includes a hinge rod72 mounted between the sidewalk of the carrier 70, on which the videodisplay screen 26 can be hung, as suggested by arrow 73 of FIG. 3. Thevideo display screen is configured to carry a TV mounting bracket 74 onits rear face 76 that includes hooks 78 sized and positioned to engagethe hinge rod 72 of the carrier 70. The bracket 74 can be applied to therear 76 of the video display screen using four socket head screws 80spaced in accordance with known video screen mounting standards, such asVESA standards. When the video display screen has been installed on theback panel 22, the front panel 24 is attached to the back panel 22, withthe video display screen 26 positioned to be viewable through theviewing window 28. The position of the video display screen isadjustable on the back panel 22 by shifting the carrier 70 to establishalignment of the screen 26 with the viewing window 28. One arrangementfor permitting the carrier 70 to shift is to apply mounting bolts 82through elongated adjustment slots 84 in the carrier and then to shiftthe carrier as necessary in the elongated slots to align the screen. Thebolts can be tightened by using wing nuts 86, thereby fixing theposition of the carrier on the front face of the back panel.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the front panel 24 is applied to the backpanel 22 over the mounted video display screen 26. The front panel isformed of a front wall 88 that fits over the perimeter of the videodisplay screen 26 to hold the video display screen within the displayhousing 20. From outer edges of front wall 88, right and left sidewalk34, 36, top sidewall 30, and a bottom sidewall 32 depend and fit aroundthe back panel 22, inclusive of sidewalk 44 and receivers 46, 58 of theback panel. The sidewalk 34, 36 of the front panel carry engaginghitches that engage the receivers 46, 58 as previously described andfunction similarly to the examples employing pins 56, 68. The pins 56,68 are equal in number and position to the receivers 46, 58 of the backwall, as previously described. The pins 56, 68 are arranged to include,for example, a top pair of pins 56 and a bottom pair of pins 68, alsoseparated into a right hand pair and a left hand pair. A suitable pinmounting is to sidewall 34 or 36 of the front panel 24 in a transverseorientation to fit across the receivers 46, 58. The spacing of the pinsin front-to-back depth on sidewalls 34, 36 is determined by the proposeddegree of engagement of the front panel over the back panel. Assuggested by FIG. 6, the pins wall be engaged over receivers 46, 58 inseats 48, 60. The seats are at a preselected forward distance from backpanel 22, and the pins 56, 68 are at a preselected rearward distancebehind front panel wall 88. Thus, with the pins located at the seats 48,60, the front-to-back depth of pin position on sidewalls 34, 36determines how far the front panel sidewalls 34, 36 overlap the backpanel sidewalk 44 at least with respect to seats 48, 60. Prior to thepoint of full assembly, but with the top pair of right and left pins 56fully engaged at the right and left seats 48 on the receivers 46, thebottom pair of right and left pins 68 is positioned at the thresholds 62of the bottom pair of right and left receivers 58, as previouslydescribed. Assembly of the display housing 20 is completed by firsthooking the top pair of pins 58 over the top receivers 46 topre-position the two panels for final assembly, and then pressing thefront panel 24 toward the back panel 22 by hand pressure, as suggestedby the hand images 96 and motion arrows 69 in FIG. 6, forcing the lowerpair of pins 68 past the thresholds 62 at the entry position of thelower pair of receivers. The lower pins 68 will then move into the seats60 or other end stops at the back ends of the receivers 58, completingassembly of the display housing 20.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the upper receivers 46 extend forward from wall44 by a selected distance. The lower receivers 58 extend forward by asmaller selected distance. This size difference reflects the differencein function, where the front panel is placed by hand over the largerreceivers 46. The larger receivers 46 are desirable when the engagementis made by hand. The lower receivers 58 benefit from the hand engagementof the upper elements because the lower receivers become pre-aligned,requiring only a direct push to complete the fastening. Due to thepre-alignment, the smaller lower fasteners 58 are adequate forcompleting the fastening. The use of larger and smaller receivers can beapplied to other orientations of the front and back panels, using thelarger fasteners for the end of the display housing that will bedirectly engaged by hand.

With reference to FIGS. 5, 7 and 8C-E, the display housing 20 can beopened by hand, without requiring any tools. From a starting position ofFIG. 8C where the housing 20 is fully assembled, opening the housingbegins at FIG. 8D by forcing lower pin 68 forward from seat 60 and pastthreshold 62. Hand-pulling the bottom of the front panel, as suggestedby hand images 98 and arrow 99 of FIG. 7, frees the lower pins 68 fromthe lower receivers 58, bringing pins 68 to the position of FIG. 8D. Thebottom wall 32 of the front panel 24 has openings or recesses serving asfinger grips 100, FIG. 5, to aid in the hand-pulling of the front panel.When the bottom fasteners have been pulled open, the pins 56 of thepositioning members at the top of the housing can be easily lifted fromseat 48, as suggested by arrow 77 of FIG. 8D. Lifting the pins 56 fromthe similarly located upper receivers 46 brings the upper pin 56 to theposition of FIG. 8E. Then, the front panel 24 can be lifted free of theback panel 22.

Several mounting environments are suitable for employing the displayhousing 20. As disclosed above, one type of mounting is a verticalmounting, such as on a wall. This mounting can be established byattaching the back panel of the display housing to a vertical wall. Thehousing may be formed of sheet steel that is heavy enough to resisttampering and forced opening. Such steel can be difficult to mount. Asan aid to mounting the back panel, it is configured with an array ofpre-formed mounting holes 102 spread across the back panel in both topand bottom rows. A secure wall mounting is especially important toresist pulling the housing free of the wall when pulling forward thefront panel to open the housing.

Uniting the front and back panels of the display housing can beunderstood from a different perspective where the angled fingers servingas receivers 46 and 58 are regarded as hooks in a cramped entry. Thejoining scheme can be viewed as a snap together function in whichfastening members 58 and positioning members 46 are formed by opposed,outside facing hooks, which may include angled ramps 64, 52. The backpanel carries a first pair of hooks 46, disposed near the top of theback panel, to the right and left on sidewalk 44 of the back panel 22.The hooks open to the top of the housing. These first hooks functionmuch like the previously described positioning structures 46. A secondpair of hooks 58 are disposed near the bottom of the back panel, to theright and left on sidewalk of the back panel and open to the bottom ofthe back panel. These second hooks function much like the previouslydescribed fastening members 58. In both cases, the hooks are set backfrom the respective nearest edge, top or bottom, of the housing. Thefront panel 24 of the housing carries mating hitches configured astransverse pins that are spaced not quite far enough, top to bottom, tobe freely engaged in both top and bottom pairs of hooks 46, 58 at thesame time. Instead, one pair of pins, such as the top pair 56, must behooked over the leading ends 50 of the top, upwardly open hooks 46. Onceover the leading edge 50, the pins slide on inclined ramps 52 into thetop hooks to draw the front panel 24 vertically lower and nearer to theback panel, achieving pre-fastening alignment with the back panel 22.With the pre-alignment, the bottom pins 68 become positioned at theleading or front ends 62 of the bottom hooks 58. In order to enter thebottom hooks, the bottom pair of pins 68 has to flex or otherwisedeflect around the leadings ends 62. Once engaged in the bottom hooks,the bottom pins are drawn on incline 64 toward the back panel 22 tocomplete the assembly. Opening the housing 20 is achieved by pulling outon the bottom wall 32 of the front panel with enough force to again flexthe bottom pins 68 to pull back over the leading ends 62 of the bottomhooks.

According to this perspective, the top hooks 46 have a top edge 48, 52,50 that is angled upwardly from the back panel, forward to the free end50 of the top hooks, defining a top entry guide or ramp 52. A first pairof pins, likewise, will be a top pair 56 and initially will be hookedover the corresponding top hooks, where the engaged pins slide down theramp 52, pulling the front frame 24 closer to the back panel assembly 22and lowering the position of the front frame 24 to align with the backassembly.

The bottom hooks 58 have a bottom edge 60, 64, 62 that is angleddownwardly from the back panel, forward to the free end 62 of the bottomhooks, defining a lower entry guide or ramp 64. A second pair of pins68, likewise, will be a bottom pair that will be aligned with theforward, free ends 62 of the bottom hooks. Due to the inclined angle ofthe second pair of ramps 64, the second pair of pins 68 is partiallyblocked from engaging under the entry 62 of the second pair of hooks. Inorder to complete the assembly, the lower pins must be pushed toward theback panel with sufficient force to cause them to flex while passingunder the free ends 62 of the second pair of hooks. The lower pins thenare free to spring back to contact the ramps 64. The lower pins are freeto slide up the inclined ramp 64 toward the back panel, pulling thebottom of the front panel toward the back panel.

With reference to FIGS. 9-12, another mounting environment isfree-standing, such as in a kiosk 104. This type of mounting employs apedestal 106 that supports a table 108 at its top. The pedestalmaintains the table at a chosen angular disposition, such as horizontalor tilted up from horizontal at a convenient acute viewing angle such as30°, 45°, or some other chosen angle. The display housing 20 is mountedto the table 108 and presents the video display screen 26 at the chosenviewing angle. The mounting may be by a hinge 110 between the bottom ofthe back panel and the lower end edge of the table 108. A further partof the mounting may be by keyed fasteners 112 between a top portion ofthe table and a top portion of the back panel of the display housing. Asuitable type of keyed lock 112 is a cam lock fastener, which uses akey-controlled rotatable blade fixed to the table to provide security byengaging the rotary blade in front of the back panel to selectivelyprevent the back panel from lifting away from the table. At the sametime, the display housing may be secured together by the receivers 46,58 and hitches 56, 68 previously described. Other supplemental locks 114similar to cam lock fasteners can be employed, such as to supplementallysecure the front panel to the rear panel or table.

In the environment of a kiosk, several additional features aredesirable. One of these is gas springs 116 arranged between the tableand the rear panel. When the display housing is pivoted away from thetable, the gas springs secure the display housing in the separatedposition to prevent the display housing from accidentally falling backon the table. Another feature is an NUC PC 118 enclosure or the like,located on the table at a spot with sufficient clearance to the backpanel or to the contained video display screen. The NUC PC can supplycontent to the video display screen. A third feature is a hollow corepassage 120 through the height of the pedestal 106, which can passthrough the table to supply ventilation airflow into the video displayhousing 20. To promote cooling airflow, the back panel of the displayhousing may be ventilated through back panel openings 122 that permitairflow access to the video display screen. The hollow pedestal 120 alsois a convenient passage for an electrical connection to the videodisplay screen. A power cord 126 may pass from the video display screeninto the pedestal and extend as far as desired. For example, the cord126 may be routed to an electrical source 124, such as an outlet 124located anywhere including inside or outside the pedestal. A power cord126 can be extended out the bottom of the pedestal 106 to an externalpower outlet or junction box; or external power may be delivered to anoutlet or power strip inside the pedestal from an external source. Theseor other convenient schemes may employ the hollow pedestal as a conduitfor power delivery. Thus, the video display screen may provide its ownpower cord 126 passing into or through the hollow pedestal to reachwhatever power connection 124 is employed.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be regarded as falling within the scope of the invention as definedby the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display housing transmutable between assembledand disassembled configurations, comprising: front and back panelsarranged in alternative assembled or disassembled configurations, whenin said assembled configuration forming an interior chambertherebetween, said front panel defining a front viewing window visuallyaccessing said interior chamber; a first fastener array on a first ofsaid front and back panels and a second fastener array on a second ofsaid front and back panels, facing one another when the panels are inthe assembled configuration, said first and second fastener arrays beingin positions aligned to engage between the front and back panels tounite the front and back panels into the assembled configuration; thefirst fastener array is formed of a pair of upper hitches arranged inupper left and right side positions on said first panel, and a pair oflower hitches arranged in lower left and right side positions on thefirst panel; the second fastener array is formed of a pair of upperreceivers arranged in upper left and right side positions on said secondpanel with each having an upward opening, and a pair of lower receiversarranged in lower left and right side positions on the second panel witheach having a downward opening; said upper left and right hitches of thefirst fastener array are positioned to enter said respective upper leftand right receivers at said upward openings, establishing a junction ofknown distance to said lower hitches and to said downward openings ofsaid lower receivers, wherein the known distances between the downwardopenings and the lower hitches establishes an interference fit whereinthe position of the lower receivers interferes with clear entry of thelower hitches into the downward openings of the lower receivers; and aheight adjustable slide connected to a lower receiver, the heightadjustment modifying said interference fit.
 2. The display housing ofclaim 1, further comprising: an adjustable compression fasteneroperating between said second housing panel and said slide to modifysaid interference fit; and a keyway slot defined in the second housingpanel and carrying said adjustable compression fastener.
 3. The displayhousing of claim 1, further comprising: a spring connected between saidslide and said second panel such that changes in the length of saidspring correspondingly change said distance between said junction andsaid downward openings of the lower receivers; and a spring moveraltering the length of the spring in response to changes in closeness ofsaid first panel to the second panel at the lower receivers.
 4. Thedisplay housing of claim 3, wherein: said spring mover comprises a topedge on said lower receivers, sloped and positioned to force a change insaid distance between said junction and said downward openings of thelower receivers in response to changes in closeness of said first panelto the second panel at the lower receivers.
 5. The display housing ofclaim 1, wherein: said first housing panel is said front panel; saidsecond housing panel is said back panel; and said upper and lower pairsof hitches are arranged laterally of said front viewing window.
 6. Adisplay housing transmutable between an open configuration and a closedconfiguration, comprising: a front housing panel and a back housingpanel arranged in alternative closed or open housing configurations,each panel having upper and lower ends and right and left sides, andwhen in said closed configuration defining a closed interior chamberconfigured, in use, to contain a flat panel display, said front paneldefining a viewing window visually accessing said interior chamber; atransverse upper hitch and a transverse lower hitch on a first of saidfront and back housing panels, said transverse upper hitch and saidtransverse lower hitch being separated by a known spacing; an upperreceiver disposed at an upper position on said housing, on a second ofsaid front and back housing panels, carrying a top seat for receiving anupper hitch when the housing is in closed configuration; a lowerreceiver disposed at a lower position on the housing, carrying a bottomseat for receiving said lower hitch when the housing is in closedconfiguration; a slide mounted on said second housing panel, carryingone of said lower receivers, longitudinally moveable duringtransmutation of the housing from open to closed configuration over apath of travel oriented between upper and lower positions on the secondhousing panel; wherein, said path of travel includes a first pointwhere, with respect to said known hitch spacing, said carried bottomseat receives said hitch, and the path of travel includes a second pointwhere the carried bottom seat is closed to receiving the hitch; a springacting between said slide and the second housing panel, in a positionbiasing the slide to the second point; a slide mover positioned to beapplied against the first panel during transmutation of the housing fromopen to closed configuration, moving the slide to the first point;whereby the seat on the receiver carried on the slide receives the hitchwhen the housing is closed.